The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1887-01-11
DEATH OF JOHN ROACH.
The Noted ShipbuiIder Dies After
Long Illness.

New YORK, Jan. 10.-Forty-four years
ago, John Roach, the noted shipbuilder of
late years, came to New York from Ireland
poor lad, 16 years of age, stranger and
nearly friendless. This morning he died af-
ter an illness of considerable duration.
When he came to America the only man he
knew ION this side of the Atlantic was one
who had worked for his father in Ireland.
Him he sought and found in an iron works
go miles from Jersey City,where he procured
employment Three years later he had accu-
mulated $500. He then took small part of
his wages and went West TO purchase land.
leaving the larger portion with his employer,
who failed soon after, compelling the young
man to return East and again work as la
borer. In the course of few years he set
up for himself, and for season prospered,
but his income was so limited that the explo-
sion of boiler ruined him. Nothing daunt-
ed, he. started again, and was before many
years the owner of the works in which the
largest boilers built in the United States, up
to that time, were made. In 1868 he bought
the Morgan Iron Works in New York, and
in 1871 the large plant for iron shipbuilding
at Chester, Pa. From these two great ship
yards ia iron ships have been launched,
which represented business of more than
$50,000,O00. 1t is said.that 80 per cent of the
iron ships now sailing under the American
flag were built by John Roach. He did very
little work for the government until after the
war. The first important contract he had
with the government was the building of the
compound engines of the Trenton for $685.
00o-S15,0o0 less than any other bidder.
When the four new turreted monitors were
ordered in 1873, he received two of them to
build at the same terms they were given to
other builders In 1876, two other monitors
out of five were given him to build. This is
about all the work he did for the government
down to the time he contracted for the Dol
phin and the three cruisers. And yet it has
been declared and reiterated that the Roach
shipyards were supported by government
contracts. Political opponents and the free
ship lobby have assailed Mr.. Roach as no
man in private business has never yet been
assailed. When the Democratic administra-
tion came in 1t assumed that the ISLANDERS ut
tered against Mr.. Roach were true. 1t re-
fused to accept the Dolphin, when it had
complied with all the tests for many months.
A decision was rendered by the Attorney
General to the effect that the contracts for
the other three ships building were not bind
ing. This led MIR. Roach to make an assign
ment to save his creditors. His assets were
considerably in excess OF his liabilities, but
his great enterprises were closed and 2500
skilled mechanics were turned out of en-
ployment. A rigid investigation was made
of the three cruisers which were building,
the result of which was declaration that
the work at the time of inspection had been
done according to the contract. The longer
fair-minded men have to think of the treat
ment which Mr.. Reach received from the
government the more inclined will they be to
characterize it as persecution. Since the
failure, Mr.. Roachs friends say that he has
not seemed like the same man. 1t was too
much for a man of seventy years to carry.
Mr.. Roach was a man of the strictest lntegri-
ty. He was never sued, and no ship was
ever transferred to those for whom It was
built, until they were satisfied. He was
man of broad intelligence, and possessed a
rare power of putting things. As the oppo-
nent OF free ships he fought the advocates so
powerfully that they were vanquished, but
raised the cry of lobbyist and corruptionist
against him, to his prejudice with people
he was model man, and was most priced
where he was best known. No man has done
so much for the industries of the country,
and no one has so well proved what brains,
character and energy can accomplish. He
leaves widow and several children, among
whom are two sons, who have been the able
assistants of their father for several years.
Mr.. Roach's age was about II years.
The death of Mr. Roach was not unex-
pected. Saturday night he experienced
sharp shooting pains at the root of the
tongue, with difficulty in breathing. At
times he would sink into comatose state.
He grew weaker yesterday, but toward eve
ming revived. DR.. Taylor called at 3 o'clock
this morning. He detected the approach of
death, and at once informed the family that
Mr.. Roach had only few hours to live. His
end was unmarked by struggle.